Acetylene generator



` Aug. 19, 1924. 1,505,259-

A. L. HANSEN ACETYLENE GENERATOR Aug. 19 1924. 1505,259

' A. L. HANSEN ACETYLENE GENERATOR Filed May 22. 192 sheezs-s'he '2 Patented Aug. 19, 1924.

TEN- ai.

AUGIE L. HANsnN, Or nvANs'roN, ILLrNoIs, AssICNOn To A. L. HANSEN Mre. co., or CHICAGO, ILLINOrs, A CORPORATION or :(LLINOIS.

ACErYLENE GENERATOR.

Application filed May 22, 1920., Serial NO. 383,374.

To aZZ 107mm z't may Gomera:

Be it known that I, AUGIE L. HANSEN, a

citizen of vthe United States, and a residentV 'of Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene Generators, of which the following is a specification. 4

My invention relates in general to acetylene lamps for all purposes, but is particularly designed to meet the requirements of acetylene lamps used by miners (generally known as 1niner7s Cap lainps) and to over- Coine the recognized disadvantages of lamps of such type.

The Component parts Common to acetylene lainps generally are the Carbide container, the water container, the burner tip, and water feeding` means from the water Compartment to the Carbide compartment.

VVater feeds in miners lamps have been of two types; the wiek feed and the hydrostatic or gravity feed. z

In the drawings, which present an illustrative embodiment of the invention, which latter is not confined to the particular form disclosed:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the mineifs lamp Constructed in accordance with my invention, i

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof,

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional elevation on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, p

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional plan view on the line 4--t of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the lower part of the wiek tubes, and

Fig. 6 is a perspeetive view of the wiek.

I provide an upper section of the lamp, comprising' the water Chamber 1 into which the Carbide` Chamber 2 is adapted to be screwed from beneath; the water Chamber 1, being provided with a threaded recess in its bottom to receive the threaded neck 4: of the c'arbide Chamber 2; the rubber gasket 5 formingI a. seal. VVater being fed from the water Chamber 1 to the carbide Chamber 2 generates gas which passes upwardly through the filter 6 along the passage 7 and out of the burner tip 7a, this general type of construction being well known in theart.

. scribed.

I shallnow describe the meansfor feeding water to the Carbide, the mechanism being` the crucialpoint of a lamp of the Character described.

I provide a pair of wiek tubes 8 (Fig. 8), extending above what would ordinarily be the top of the water Chamber, and into a specialcap 9 which will later be more` specifically desoribed. These tubes pass downwardly Vthrough the bottom 'of the water Chamber and, lying,` side by side, extend well toward the bottom of the Carloide Chamber, where they are provided withan enlarged head 10,' whose function will be later de- A clip 11 seCured to the tubes 8 h'olds the plate 12 which supports and protects Vthe filter 6 as shown.

At the upper end of the tubes 8, '(whioh are there spaced apart) and supported thereby, is a block 18 having an upstanding journal portion 14, in which is journalledV the wiok-pulley 15, having a peripheral groove and a series of transverse n'otches as shown, the whole'being lhoused in the cap9, vpreviously referred to.

The wiek, housed by the wiek tubes, is Cruciform, Cornprising` (Fig. 6), two long delivery branches 16,v and two sli'orter take-up branches 17. The' branches 16 are passed downwardly through the tubes 8, the central portion of the wiek being engaged with the' pulley, withV branches `17V iitting into the notches in the pulley ig. 3). This provides a firm engagement of the wiek with the pulley. 'The take-up branches 17 are weighted as withlunips of lead 18, and are ldropped into the water Chamber where the weights cause them to eztend to the lowest part of that Chamber (Fig. This insures that alongsection of the take-up branches 17, is at all times immersed in the water.

The delivery branches 16, feed the water to the carbide, and are extended through the wiCk tubes 8, extending for a substantial distance beyond theends thereof. I

It will be apparent that, since carbide has great absorptive power-s of water, the waterwill be suoked up byA the take upv wicks 17', andy delivered to the carbide by the Adelivery wioks 16, by Capillarity, and that Vthis operation will prooeed unifornily regardle'ss of hydrostatic pressure, unless back sucti'on, clogging of the wicks or other difiiculty interfere. By back suction I mean a condition wherein there is a large excess of pressure in the carbide Chamber over that in the water Chamber, which of course either stops or' iinpedes the `feeding of water to the carbide.

I shall now describe the means whereby such interference is prevented, beginning with the sealing of the water Chamber and its significance.

The term sealing is here used to indicate that the water Chamber is sealed, or rendered substantially air tight, eXcept of course for its communication with the carbide Chamber, in Contrast, for instance, to the lamps heretofore in use, wherein a vent is provided in the top of the water Chamber.

I have several times ment-ioned the Cap 9 which encloses the pulley 15. This Cap is hinged by means of an 'arm 20 to the bracket 21 forming a part of the lamp, and is provided with a tapering hollow stopper 22, which may be wedged home in the rubber gasket 23, mounted in a central aperture in the top of the water Chamber. The tubes 8, eXtending upwardly into the Cap, cannot be flooded, since they project upwardly beyond the top of the water Chamber. The water Chamber Can thus be filled as full as possible (through the aperture closed by the Cap 9) without bringing the water level above the tops of the tubes 8. Furthermore the Cap 9 through the sealing to the water Chamber, also provides a safety` release, because 'upon the development of heavy pressures, obviously the Cap can be blown open, being held closed by frictional engagement with the gasket 23.l

When the Cap is in closed position as shown in the drawings the water Chamber is sealed. The sealed water Chamber operates to prevent a back suction. It does this in two ways, first by buildingup a counter pressure in Chamber 1, throughl the expansion of the air therein and the development of vapor as the lamp becomes heated in use,

and second because any excess of pressure in' to carbide Chamber is immediately relieved because gas can'pass up the tubes 8 around the wick therein. Thus the pressure in the carbide chambers cannot become soV much greater than that in the water Chamber as to prevent the operation of the water feed.

All of the obj ectionable results of a hydrostatic vfeed are entirely obviated in the first place by the use of a wick feed which is Comparatively insensitive to variations in pressure and which feeds uniformly irrespective of the hydrostatic pressure, and in the second place by the provision of a substantially balanced pressure in the water Chamber and the carbide Chamber through the use of a sealed water Chamber.

I shall vnow describe the means herein provided for preventing the clogging vof the wick, a difiiculty which by itself has heretofore prevented the successful use of wick feeds. v

In the first place, the take-up wick branches 17 feed from the Cleaner top and not from the bottom of the water, and obviously a long length of these wicks is always wet by water particularly as the water isv splashed about, when the lamp is in use. Thus the Clogging of the upper portion of the wick is effectively prevented. In order to prevent the Clogging of the tubes or the portions of the wick in the tubes lby small particles of sedimcnt or the like, I make use of the pulley construction above described. Thus (referring to Figs. 3 and it will be apparent that the carbide cham- 24 and 25 of the wick 16V can be alternately pulled, forcibly 4drawing the wicks 16 back i and forth through the tubes S and over the pulley 15, thus Cleaning the wicks and clearing the tubes. This can conveniently be done as often as desired, and will serve effectively to prevent the clogging of the wicks.

I shall now describe the means whereby the wicks are made efficiently to communicate water to the carbide.` As shown in the drawings Fig. 3 the lower ends of the wicks 16 project for a considerable distance out of the tubes 8, thus exposing so much wicksurface to the carbide, as to insure the flow lof the water to the carbide even if certain portions of the wick become encrusted or clogged. In order more efiiciently to bring the wicks in contact with the carbide I provide the enlarged head 10 previously referred to which is Cone shaped and covers an area larger (transversely) than the width of the two tubes 8, (at right angles to the plane of the drawing). Immediately above the head 10 are the ports 26, out of which' the wick ends 16 project. These ports are shielded by the head 10. VVhen the carbide container 2 is applied to the lamp the head 10 will be driven down forcibly into the carbide and the wicks carried downwardly therein. During this operation and the subj sequent swelling of the carbide v(which subthe wedge shaped head 10, which spreads and disturbs the carbide as it swells, assisting in the prevention of a choked or clogged condition. This action and the very substantial length of the wicks in contact with the 'carbide assist in making the wick feed In summary, therefore, I have provided a` wiek feed type of lamp, wherein the water is fed upwardly through wicks to a point above the water level in the water Chamber and then d'ownwardly to the ends of wicks extending for a considerable length intol the Carbide. i I have provided a substantially a balanced pressure in the lamp whereby the feed of the water is i'endered uniforin not only by use of the most uniform/type'of feed, iiamely the capillary feed, but also by the fact that there are no substantial variations in pressure Vbetween the two chambers. pletely distinguished froinrthe hydrostatic feed type. Ihave furthermore established the feed from the Cleaner top waterv in the water Chamber; providedV meansg'whereb-y the wicks may be cle-aned and the' passages clcared effectively as frequently as desired;

provided means ensuring the proper absorption of the water by the carbide; and otherwise eliminated difficulties due to Clogging of the wiclrs'. I

In Fig. 6 is shown a convenient attachment for the wiek, comprisingj wires 28,`

which are bound around the ends of the delivery branches 16 and extend therefroin a length greater than the length of the tubes 8. By means of these wires new wicksy may quickly be passed through the tubes 8, after the'wick is iiitroducedthe wires 28 may be stripped ofl' and the ends 16 lrnotted as shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

Referring to the construction of the lamp casing (Figs. 1 and 2), I Construct the reflector 30 separately. ThisV refiectoreis held in position between two forlred extensions 31, from the U-shaped band 32, whichV `is secured by screws 33 to the median portion of the lamp. To the rear of the band 33 is secured the usual hook 34 and lalso at the reai' of the band 33, is the upward integral extension 21, carrying the hinge for the Cap 9, pi'eviously referred to., and the downward spread fingers 35 of the usual type. The refiector 30 has a central aperture through which is screwed the burner'. tip. he lamp herein described has proved to be of eificiency Superior to the'liydrostatic feed, in economy of operation, elimination of the sputtering or spitting of water from the vent, steadiness of fiame and other important respects. Having describedmy inven-tion,I claim: 1. In a gas generator, the combination with a receptacle for gas generating substance, a vliquid receptacle, a tube extend- In this respect the lamp is com-.

' ing into 'and cominuincating with said substance receptacle at its lower end, and terminating at its upper end above said liquid `receptacle, a wiclr inounted in said tube` and having an 'end depending into the liquid receptacle, Vand aV closui'e surrcunding .the end of said tube and forining an air chamber communicating with said liquid receptacle.

2. In a gas generator, the combination of a water receptacle, a Carbide receptacle below said water ;receptacle, a tube depending' into said carbide receptacle, and extending upwardly through said water receptacle, the same having an opening in its top wall, a

'closure for said opening forming an` air chamber surroundingthe end of said tube,

and a wick in said tube having one extremity adapted for immersion in the water of said water receptacle. o

3. In a gas generator, the Combination of a water receptacle,:a'carbide receptacle belowsaid water receptacle, a tube extending downwardly through said vwater receptaele` and opening into said carbide receptacle,

Vthe upper end of said tube terminating with- Vsaid tubes having its ends Vextending from the lower ends of the tubes, and an intermediate looped portion extending from the upper ends of the tubes, and a branch wiclr connected'with said looped portion and depending into said upper receptacle.

5. Ina gas generator, the combination of anV upper water and lower receptacle, la

double tube connecting said i'eceptacles, oneV end projecting into the lower receptacle, and the other end terniinating adJacent the topl of said upper receptacle, a wiek mounted in saidtube, with its ends projecting froin the lower end'having an intermediate looped portion extending from the upper end of said tube, and a rotative supporting meinbei' engaging' said looped portion Vof the.

wiek.

6. Ina gas generator, the combination of anupper water receptacle, a lower carbide receptacle, a tub'ular member extending centrallyiof said receptacle, and consisting of two 'passages opening at their lower end to the'interioi' of said cai'bide receptacle,

and at their upper end adjacent the top of said upper receptacle, a wiclr mounted in said passage, withits ends e-Xtending from the lower ends thereof, a pulley mounted at the upper' end of said tubular member, and

ieo

supporting an intermediate looped Vportion of sald work, and a branch wick extending from said looped portion into said water re-H ing 1ts medlan portion seated in said guide,

ceptacle.

7. In a gas generator, the combination of anupper liquid receptacle, alower receptacle, a double tubular member extending Centrally of said receptacles, opening at its ends in said lower receptacle, and adj'acent the top of said upper receptacle, a closure in the top .wall of said upper receptaCle, and forming an air Chamber surrounding the upper end of'said tubular member, and a tu-bular wiek doubled lengthwise and inserted in said member, with its ends eXtending into Said lower receptacle, means supporting the intermediate looped portion of said wlcl's: above the upper end of said tubular member, .and branch wicks connected with said `looped portlon and depending into said water receptacle.

8. In an acetylene generator, a water Chamber, an adjacent CarbideV Chamber, a duct having an inlet adjacent the top in the water Chamber, and extending substantially into the carbide Chamber, a wiCk in said duet having both ends extending substantially into the carbide Chamber, beyond the outlet end of the duet, means forfmaintaining a median portion of the wiek abovev the maximum water level in the Chamber,V

and an auxiliary wiek connected to said portion of the wlCk, and depending lnto said water Chamber.

9. In a gas generator, a water Chamber,

' water Chamber to ,the saidrmedian portion.

nately pulling its free ends,` to Clear the tube and clean the wiek, and supplementary I wick means Connecting the first wickwith the water in the water Chamber` 11. In a gas generator, and in Combination, a water Chamber, a ca'rbide Chamber` a pair of tubes leading from a point above the water Chamber and extending substantially into the Carbide Chamber, a guide mounted adjacent the upper ends of said tubes and in the plane 'thereof, a `wiek havand its free ends extending substantially beyond the Outlet ends of the tube, whereby the wiek may be reoiprocated in the tubes, by pullingits ends alternately to clear the tube and Clean the wiek, and a supplementary wick means, having its ends immersed in the water in the waterchamber and Connected to the median portion of the first mentioned wiCk.

12. In apparatus of the class described, a water Chamber adapted to be seated on and secured to a removable Carbide Chamber, a tube projecting downwardly from the water Chamber, and adapted to be buried in the carbide in the Carbide Chamber, an enlargement on'the lower end of thevtube adapted to spr'e-ad the Carbide when the tube is relatively forced thereinto, a lateral port in the tube, a wick Communicating with the water in the water Chamberand projecting for a' substantial length from the port, whereby as the end of the tube is buried in the Carbide the wiek will'effectively be buried thereby for a substantial length.

13. In a gas generator, the combination of an upper portion comprising a sealed water Chamber, a lower portion adapted to be removably attached to the upper portion, and Comprising a carbidechamber, a tube Connectingsaid upper and lower Vportions, the lower end of the tube extending far enough to be embedded in the carbide, and being provided with a lateral port, and a protecting'head, the upper end ofthe tube p'rojecting into the water Chamber, said tube Comprising the only means of communication between the two Chambers, a wiek slidably mounted in the tube, and projecting from said port behind the head, and extending substantially beyond the tube and adapt-` ed to be buried in the Carbide, lsaid wick eX- tending from the upper end of the tube above the water level down into the water in the water Chamber for a substantial length. i

14. In a gas generator, the Combination of a water Chamber having an opening in the -top wall thereof, a hollow Cap adapted to fit in said opening and to form an air Chamber 'Communicating with said water Chamber, a tube extending through said water Chamber and terminating at its upper end within said Cap and a wiek in said tube having a portion depending in the said water Chamber.

15; A Cruoiforni'wick for gas generator or the like comprising two Crossed wick lengths, adapted to provide, when doubl'ed in" the middle, a pain of delivery branches and' a pair of take-up branches, whereby water lll) may be taken up by the take-up branohes, branohes may be threaded through the tubes' then communicated to, and delivered by, the in the lamp and connected With a carbide 10 delivery branches. Chamber, and the take-up branches may 16. A cruciform wiek for gas generator or communicate Water to the delivery branches.

5 the like, comprising a pair of delivery Wiek i In Witness whereof, I hereunto Subscribe branches, each provided With a Wire tip havmy name this 10th day of May, A. D., 1920. ing a free length of Wire thereon, and a pair of take-up branohes, Whereby the delivery AUGIE L. HANSEN. 

